Donato, head men’s ice hockey coach at Harvard University, is making his first appearance on the coaching staff of a U.S. National Junior Team, but is no stranger to international hockey. The 13-year NHL veteran played on the 1988 U.S. National Junior Team in Moscow and was also a member of Team USA in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France. In addition, Donato played in three IIHF Men’s World Championships, serving as captain in 1997 and also representing the U.S. at the event in 1999 and 2002. The former Harvard captain and 1989 NCAA champion has guided his alma mater as head coach to four ECAC Hockey titles and three Ivy League championships, along with six NCAA tournament berths across 16 seasons.
Ted’s son Ryan Donato played on the bronze medal-winning 2016 U.S. National Junior Team, as well as the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
Donato has piled up a long list of accomplishments in 15 years as head coach at his alma mater at the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign. The former Crimson captain has guided Harvard to four 20-win seasons, captured ECAC Hockey and Ivy League championships, claimed six NCAA tournament berths, a Frozen Four appearance, led his team to six league championship games and five straight appearances at ECAC Hockey championship weekend, coached 11 All-Americans and 16 National Hockey Leaguers.
Donato, who won an NCAA championship as a Crimson player, was introduced as the Robert D. Ziff Head Coach of Harvard Men's Ice Hockey July 2, 2004.
Harvard earned its 25th NCAA Tournament bid (eighth among all Division I programs) and made its fifth consecutive trip to Lake Placid and the ECAC semifinals in 2018-19, becoming just the third team in the last decade to make five straight appearances at the league's championship weekend. Adam Fox was a First Team All-American and the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, as well as a Hobey Baker Hat Trick finalist (the fourth Hobey Baker top-3 selection in the last five seasons for Harvard). The entire Harvard team earned ECAC Hockey All-Academic honors. In 2017-18, Harvard returned to Lake Placid, Fox and Ryan Donato earned All-America honors, with Donato earning ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick laurels. Harvard also led ECAC Hockey with 30 league All-Academic selections.